Rotatable floor outlet box



` July 3o, 196s w. E. KELLY .ROTATABLE FLOOR OUTLET BOX original Filedsept. 17. 1964 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 July 30, 1968 w. E. KELLY ROTATBLE FLOOROUTLET BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 17, 1964 INVENTOR.WML/A214515. KELLY BY f 24' Arme/viv.

United States Patent O 3,395,243 ROTATABLE FLOOR OUTLET BOX William E.Kelly, Bradley Beach, NJ., assignor to The Thomas & Betts Co., Inc.,Elizabeth, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Continuation of applicationSer. No. 397,150, Sept. 17,

1964. This application July 13, 1967, Ser. No. 654,316

8 Claims. (Cl. 174-48) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates`to an electric outlet box to be secured to a floor or other surface bya base plate, with one or more outlets being disposed in the outlet box,the base plate and box being provided with complementary means enablingthe box to be rotated on the base plate and rockably as we'll asrotatably adjusted thereon, and means being provided to secure itthereto at precisely the selected positions of adjustment.

Rotatable floor outlet box This application is a continuation of mycopending application filed Sept. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 397,150, nowabandoned.

The present invention relates to relectric raceway systems and moreparticularly to a service outlet fixture or box adapted to be moved on4a vertical or horizontal fixed surface and connected to the conductorsusually contained in a concealed or exposed conduit or mounted on ajunction box of the floor type or similar installation for angularrotation relative thereto.

The multi-outlet fixture or box of this invention may further beangularly adjusted or rotated on a fixed base relative to anelectrically energized business machine or the lige, desk devices,telephone or other communication lines, whereby a conductor plug-incordor connection may be made thereto in direct alignment with suchmachines, devices and communication lines.

-Pursuant to the invention, means are provided enabling the outlet boxto adjust to position at various desired angles relative to the baseplate, and means enabling the outlet box to be fixed in position, afterrotation or tilting thereof relative to the 'base plate, preventingfurther unwanted or accidental movement or displacement. Thus, greatadaptability of adjustment of position is provided, plus means .forfixing the box in selected position, while enabling it to be readilyrepositioned, when desired, by the user, on disengagement of theposition fixing means.

It was necessary, in prior art systems, to disassemble the outlet box toreposition it; the outlet box of the present invention, however, may berepositioned without disassembly. i

Heretofore, certain disadvantages were present in the installation -ofan electrically operable business machine, devices or the like in afloor area provided with a convenience service outlet, which may includea telephone or other communication line connection outlet; for example,the convenience service outlet often vfaced away from the machine,device or apparatus to be energized. Thus, it was desirable to alter,reposition or relocate the convenience outlet so as to face theinstallation in substantial alignment therewith so that a conductor cordwill, when connected, extend in a substantially straight path therefromto the convenience outlet, thus presenting an efficient, safe andpleasing appearance.

It is an object of the invention to provide a service outlet fixture ofthe character described which obviates the above noted disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a service outletconvenience fixture, which is angularly adjustable.

ice

Another object of the invention is to provide a service outlet fixturewhich is simple in construction, readily installed and adjusted, andadapted for the multipurposes intended.

A further object of the invention is to provide an angularly adjustableservice outlet fixture or box of the character described in which acommunication system cable connection and a power supply outletreceptacle may be disposed in oppositely facing insulated relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service outlet fixtureof the character described which is adapted to be adjusted angularlyrelative to a fixed base plate and subsequently secured in any positionof adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a service outletconvenience fixture of the -character described, which, when installedon a fixed surface, forms its own annular track about which the fixtureis adapted to be rotated and secured in a selected position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable serviceoutlet fixture of the character described which comprises complementaryhalf-section shells adapted to be ybolted together on and about aflanged base plate therefor, for relative rotary movement thereon.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, the novelfeatures of which are set forth with particularity in the appendedclaims, the invention itself, however, both as to its organization andmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, being best understood from the following description of aspecific embodiment thereof when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view, in elevation and partly in section, illustratingthe manner of securing the rotatable service outlet fixture on a fixedsurface, and a cord inserted therein, shown in broken lines,

FIG. 2 is a front view, in elevation, with one-half section of thefixture partly broken away to illustrate the interior of the otherhalf-section,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrating the manner in whichthe service outlet convenience fixture is secured against rotationrelative to a fixed apertured base plate therefor, by means of a pair ofadjustable set screws;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan View of the service outlet fixture with anapertured base plate therefor shown in cooperable relation therewith,one half-section of the outlet `fixture or box being partially separatedtherefrom, to illustrate the manner in which the respectivehalf-sections are secured together on and about the base plate, and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the service outlet fixture orbox, as assembled on its base plate, adapted for receiving the terminalends of a pair of conduits therethrough, and illustrating the manner inwhich a communication cable outlet connection may be contained withinthe outlet fixture, in conjunction with a power supply outlet socket,with an insulation barrier therebetween, dividing the fixture into twocompartments.

Referring to the drawings and to FIGS. l, 2 and 5 in particular, therotatable service outlet fixture or box generally indicated at 10comprises a circular base plate 12 having a central clearance opening 14therethrough for the reception of a conventional pipe nipple 16 thereinwhich is provided with a plastic insulation sleeve or bushing 18, thenipple 16 having a hexagonal head end whereby it is adapted to berotated to secure the base plate 12 on a fixed support or floor 20 inalignment with a raceway opening 22 therethrough by threading theopposite, externally threaded end of the nipple 16 into a conventionalscrew plate 24, held against the underside of the floor 20 in alignmentwith the opening 22. Relative movement of the base plate 12 and screwplate 24, upon tightening the nipple 16, is prevented respectively by apair of suitable screws 26 threaded through the base plate 12, radiallyof its central opening 14 and extending part way into the fixed supportor floor 20, and a V tooth or key 28 struck out of the plane of thescrew plate 24 on its periphery, adapted to bite into the floor surface20 in known manner.

Further in accordance with the invention, the base plate 12 is providedwith an angular flange 30 about its peripheral edge portion extendingupwardly from its central portion at an angle of 60 degrees whereby anannular, inclined track is formed between the base or pivot plate 12 andthe fixed support or floor 20 for a purpose now to be described.

Further in accordance with the invention, the service outlet conveniencefixture includes a pair of die cast, complementary, shell-likehalf-sections 34 and 36 of suitable design and defining, when securedtogether in edge face abutment, a tapered, box-like enclosure having asubstantially circular bottom portion with a large circular openingtherein defined by a split, inwardly projecting annular fiange 42tapering in cross-section toward its opening defining edge and having aninside diameter smaller than the overall outside diameter of the angularflange 30 on the base plate 12.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the abutting margins of the box-likehalf-sections 34 and 36 are each partly provided with a rectangularstepped edge or lip 44 adapted to seat against the opposite remaininghalf of the plain edge portion 46 of each of the half-sections incomplementary interlocked relation providing an externally smooth, dustfree seam line between the half-sections 34 and 36 when securedtogether.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the half-sections 34 and 36 are securedtogether by means of a pair of machine screws 48 or the like whichextend in opposite directions through a suitable apertured boss 50formed within the section 34 and for engagement in a suitable screwthreaded aperture in the opposite correlated boss 54 within section 36as best shown in FIG. 5. Moreover, each half-section 34 and 36 is alsoprovided with linear projections 56 on its inner top and side wallsrespectively which extend in parallelism short of the edge face of eachhalf-section to provide spot abutments for an insulation panel orbarrier 58 of suitable size and material which may, if desired, bepositioned between the half-sections before securing the same togetherto form two compartments within the fixture 10 with the screws 48extending through suitable openings in the panel 58, as clearly shown inFIG. 5.

Further in accordance with the invention and as best shown in FIG. 2,the front face of at least one of the half-sections 34 and 36 isprovided with either one opening for a conventional single outletreceptacle indicated at 60 in which case the usual metal end extensionsthereon are brought against a pair of aligned pads 62 through whichsuitable holes may be drilled for securing the same in place in thehalf-section by means of suitable screws, or a dual outlet receptacle 64secured against an intermediate or central pad 66 by means of the screw68.

The opposite half-section may be provided with a smaller central openingfor the reception of a suitable grommet 70 (see FIG. 5) of rubber or thelike for the extension therethrough of a communication system cable 72.In cases as just described, the Ibase plate 12 is provided with two sideby side openings for the reception of two of the nipples, as indicatedat 16 in FIG. l, for the separate extension therethrough of the cable 72and usual power line conductors for the outlet receptacle 64, as clearlyshown in FIG. 5. Each of the nipples 16 may be provided with separatescrew plates 24 or a single screw plate as at 24 in FIG. 1 may beemployed.

Accordingly, when the base plate 12 has been secured to a fixed support20 as aforesaid, the half-sections 34 and 36 are assembled thereon aboutits angularly flanged peripheral portion 30 and secured together bymeans of the screws 48 whereby the flange 42 within the joinedhalf-sections 34 and 36 freely engages the underside of the angularflange 30 of the base plate 12 whereby the outlet fixture 10 ispivotally mounted on the fixed support 20 (see FIG. 5), and securedthereon in a selected position by means of a pair of headless set screws74 each having a pointed end 76 adapted to match the 60 degree angle ofthe flange 30 on the base plate 12 when threaded slightly downwardlythrough the side of each half-section 34 and 36 and emerging inwardlythereof just above the top side of the inner fiange 42 therein as bestshown in FIG. 3, whereby the outlet fixture 10 is locked to the fixedsupport 20 in any position of angular adjustment to suit a power supplycord 78 extended in a straight line to the service outlet fixture asclearly shown in FIG. 1.

The set-screws 74 adjustment arrangement also permits the box to tiltwith respect to the base 12, to match the fioor level and contour; thusthe box may seek its own level, and may be fixed in the position at thatlevel. A further feature of the invention is the provision of a groundterminal for each compartment.

While the foregoing disclosure of exemplary embodiments is made inaccordance with the patent statutes, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto or thereby, the inventive scope beingdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fixture for positioning a service outlet with respect to a mountingsurface comprising: a mounting member adapted to be fixedly secured to amounting surface, said mounting member having a base portion extendingalong the plane of a mounting surface and a track portion extendingoutwardly from said base portion at a predetermined angle thereto; saidtrack portion being dimensioned so as to have its smallest diameter atthe jointure of said base portion and said track portion and a largerdiameter at the free end of said track portion; a housing means havingat least one first opening therein to receive a service outlet; saidhousing means having a second opening therein; rib means adjacent saidsecond opening of said housing means defining a surface complementarywith said track portion and limiting said second opening to a diametergreater than the smallest diameter of said track portion but less thanthe diameter of the track portion at its free end; whereby the assemblyof said mounting member through said second opening of said housingmeans to a mounting surface causes said rib surface to contact saidtrack portion permitting the positioning of said housing means withrespect to said mounting surface.

2. A fixture for positioning a service outlet with respect to a mountingsurface as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises twocomplementary sections arranged to be assembled into a unitary housingmeans by means of fastening means.

3. A fixture for positioning a service outlet with respect to a mountingsurface as defined in claim 2 further including insulating meanspositioned between the two complementary sections of said housing meansfor partitioning said housing means into at least two chambers isolatedfrom one another.

4. A fixture for positioning a service outlet with respect to a mountingsurface as defined in claim 1 wherein said rib means is formedintegrally with said housing means and adjacent the base thereof, saidrib means acting to cause the capture of said housing means by saidmounting member when assembled but permitting the rotation and tiltingof said housing means with respect to said mounting member.

5. A fixture for positioning a service outlet with respect to a mountingsurface as defined in claim 1, further including locking means wherebythe housing means may be locked against further movement upon completionof the desired positioning of said housing means with respect to saidmounting surface, and unlocked to permit desired repositioning.

6. A fixture for positioning a service outlet with respect to a mountingsurface as defined in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises atleast one screw having a surface complementary to said predeterminedangle of said track portion and engageable with said track portionwhereby said housing means may be positioned with respect to anintermediate surface without regard for said mounting surface.

7. A fixture for positioning a service outlet with respect to a mountingsurface as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting member has at leastone opening therein to permit the passage of at least one conductortherethrough for coupling to a service outlet placed in said firstopening.

8. A fixture for positioning a service outlet with respect to a mountingsurface as defined in claim 1 further including at least one groundingterminal within said housing means.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 369,805 7/ 1963 Switzerland.

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

